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Orange County Register

O.C. a hotbed of marine fossils

There was a time, millions of years ago, when Orange County was almost completely under water. There was a also a time when the county’s topography was similar to that of a rainforest.

As a result of such occurrences, Orange County is home to many fossilized remains.

Among the county’s fossils is a galloping crocodile-like animal that would munch on petite horse-like animals. It is speculated that this animal would stand on its hind legs and run like a T-Rex, explained Meredith Rivin, associate curator of paleontology at the John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center.

Rivin recently talked to a group of about 100 Cal State Fullerton Osher Lifelong Learning Institute members about the county’s fossils in her 90-minute presentation: “The History of Life in Orange County: A Trip Through Time.”